Recording device



May 3, 1938. M. A. LlcHTEN 2,115,853.

I RECORDING DEVICE Filed uw. 4. 1935 s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 3,1938.` f M. A. LlcHTEN RECORDING DEVICE Filed nec. 4. 1935 3sheets-snede INVENTOR fc/Ven.

.l ATTORNEY May 3 1938?- y M. A. LICVHTEN l l .2,115,863

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Dec.y 4, 1935 's `sheets-sheet s INVENTOR wm/Yaa/'lce l /c/ fen,

ATTORNEY imoonnnve DEVICE Maurice A. leichten, Longlsland' City, N. Y.,as-

signor to Fldelitone Records, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application December 4, 1935, SerlalNo. 52,787

'25 Claims. .(Cl. 274-9) T'hisy invention relates toV devices adaptedfor use in recording impulses on flexible records.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved recordingmeans whereby variations in the characteristics of sounds reproducedfrom the inside and the outside of flexible records may be minimized. I

A more specic object is the provision of means whereby the depth of asound groove engraved in exible records may be rendered more nearlyuniform thruout the radial extent of the record.

A further object is the provision of means whereby sound grooves havinga high degree of uniformity may be engraved on flexible records.

An additional object is the provision of improved means for supporting aflexible record.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear'hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplied in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application oi which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects ofthe inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, -in which:

` Figure 1 is a side view of one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. .2 is a. sectional view of the record-supporting means andassociated parts;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the record-supporting means reversed;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a turn-table carrying a support embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged view illustrating the stylus and the mannerin which it cuts a groove at the inside of a record supported in themanner exemplied in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the manner in which the stylus -cutsagroove at the outside of a record supported in the manner exemplified inFig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the stylus;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view ofa modified( -form ofdeviceembodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section along the line i3-i3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view along the line lI-Il of Fig.' 13; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 12 showing a furthermodification.

For the sake of facility of expression the term record is used herein toincluderecord blanks,

,and the term sound is used herein to include impulses in the recordingor reproduction of which problems similar to those presented in therecording or reproduction of sound are involved.

Flexible records have many desirable qualities for the recording andreproduction of sound.

The use of styli having no tendency to cut into the record differentlyat different speeds of movement has proved unsatisfactory in recordingon flexible records. Moreover, the provision of a '20"A at the outsideof such records, and in the quality i of the tones reproduced therefrom,as well asv other variations in quality. Dimculties have al-v so beenexperienced due to the fact that if the grooves at the peripheralportion of a record are made suiiiciently deep to assure against aneedle jumping a groove when the record is played, and other undesirabletendencies, thereis a tendency for the grooves at the central portion ofthe record to undesirably converge. Accordingly, while var- ,iousimprovements in the recording of sound on,

and the reproduction of sounds from, flexible records, and in increasingthe uniformity of sound grooves engraved thereon may be made inaccordance with the inventions disclosed and claimed in my co-pendingapplications, Serial No.`

654,782, filed February 2, V1933, vnow Patent No. 2,032,062, and thecontinuations thereof,- Serial No. 44,138, led October 9, 1935, andSerial No. 51,776, iiled November 27, 1935; additional improvements havebeen necessary to secure the de- ,sired quality of recording andreproduction on flexible records, and to the making of these and otherimprovements the present invention is directed. v

'Ihe variations in the depth of sound grooves 'at diiierent radialpoints in a record 'appears to be due in large measure to thedifferences in speed of relative movement of the record and stylus atthe inside of a record where the circle of movement is small and at theoutside of a record where the circle of movement is large and the speedproportionately greater. With a stylus formed and mounted so that itpresents an inclined portion to the record, differences in speed willtend to cause the stylus to be pushed upwardly to different extents, sothat grooves of different depths Will be cut. Another factor whichappears, in some instances, to cause some variations in depth of thesound groove cut at various radial points in a record, is the differencein the tension of the material of the record at different radial pointsthereon. This factor appears to be present particularly in records whichare drum-formed. While this factor is probably always of much lessimportance than the speed factor discussed above, it should neverthelessbe taken into consideration. However, the problem is not additionallycomplicated by this factor, since it will be seen that, in general, thesame problems are involved in compensating for tension factor as incompensating for speed factor.

Furthermore, when a flexible record is resiliently supported it tends toform a hollow under the stylus, the conformation of which is to acertain extent a factor in the way the stylus rides.

With the foregoing and other considerations in view, the presentinvention contemplates the provision of means whereby the factor orfactors tending to cause differences in the depth of the sound groove atdifferent radial points may be compensated for, and the cutting effectof .the stylus made substantially uniform thruout the radial extent of aflexible record.

In accordance with the invention the angularity of the stylus may bevaried at different radial points on the record so as to compensate forthe difference in speed, and, if desired, also of other factors ofdiierence, between the central portion and the peripheral portion of therecord. -This may be accomplished by altering the height of the pivotpoint of the stylus carrier as it moves across a record, but it ispreferably accomplished by supporting the record differently atdifferent radial points. The supporting means may be arranged to presentthe record to the stylus at higher points toward the outside of therecord than near the inside of the record, and preferably atcontinuously higher points.

When such a support is.used for a record on which the sound groove isengraved by a stylus which is resiliently carried, as in my saidcopending applications, there is the additional advantage that thetensionof the elastic or other member from which the stylus or styluscarrier is hung is relieved to a somewhat greater extent at the outsideof a record than at the inside, so as to put a greater weight onthestylus, which further assists in compensating for the difference in cutdue to the difference in speed at different radial points, and thiseiIect may be utilized in compensating for the speed difference. In thisconnection it is to be observed that while the preferred constructionswhich are particularly exemplified provide means whereby the stylus iscaused to bear differently upon the record at different radial pointsprincipally, at least by'a variation in the angularity of the' stylus,`the invention in its broader aspects embraces constructions whereby theAstylus is caused to bear difierently upon the record at differentradial points principally, at least, by varying the weight on thestylus, as by relieving the tension of a re silient stylus-supportingmember; for instance, either by the provision of means to effect acontinuous alteration of a tension-adjusting means or by the provisionof a support which will relieve the tension sufficiently to compensatefor the speed factor, as' for example, in constructions wherein thestylus is vertically but not angularly adjustable; and in accordancewith the invention there may be provided means to cause the stylus tobear differently on the record by an alteration of the effective weighton the stylus. However, causing the stylus to bear differently on therecord by an alteration of the angularity of the stylus combinessimplicity with a highdegree of certainty and practicality.

In accordance with the invention also there may be provided variousfeatures of construction including the provision of a reversible recordsupport adapted for use with records driven at different speeds, or ofrecords of different composition, the provision of air-cushioning meansto support a record, and the provision of means whereby the record maybe supported under the stylus at a single point throughout the radialmovement of the stylus.

An exceedingly simple form of record support for use in a deviceembodying the invention in its preferred form, is one the surface ofwhich rises from an inner portion of the record to an outer portion. Asabove indicated, however, the invention in its broader aspectscontemplates the provision of means of any of a variety of types,

certain of which are particularly exemplified hereinafter, for alteringthe cutting effect of the stylus as it moves across the record, so as toproduce a groove of substantially uniform depth ried a stationaryrecord-supporting table 'I which is carried on the pointed ends of the`posts thru the medium of rubber members 8. Records on the table 1 arerotated by a member 49 carrying driving pins I0 and a center pin IIextendinginto openings I2 and I3, respectively, in the record. Themembers is carried on a shaft I4 rotated by'a fly-wheel I5 driven fromone' or another of motors I'S and I'I`adapted to rotate the record atspeeds which are relatively high and low respectively, in accordancewith said application, Serial No. 51,776. The sound groove is engravedby a sylusy I8 carried by a sound head I9 which is pivotally supportedonv a horizontal pivot 20 disposed above the position in which therecord is supported and at a distance not greatly removed from thestylus. The pivot 20 connects the stylus carrier with an arm 2| which issupported for vertical slidingmovement on a bracket 22. Suitableadjustment of the vertical position 'of the arm 2| and consequently ofthe pivot point may be made by an adjusting screw 22a thru the medium ofa suitable gear and rack in accordance with said application, Serial No.44,138. From the bracket 22 there extends an arm,23 carrying anadjustable pin 24 from which the cation, Serial No. 44,1138. The shaft28 is driven thru the-medium of a belt and pulley from a worm shaft 29meshing with a worm 30 on the shaft i4 as set forth in said application,Serial No. 44,138.

The record-supporting table 1 carries recordsupporting means, indicatedat 3l, and formed, in accordance with the invention, to provide an f,upwardly and outwardly inclined support for a apart as the stylus movesinwardly, as' the case flexible record.

'I'he stylus I8 is formed to present an inclined portion at its tip tothe body of the record. As exemplified, the stylus is of the generalcharacter of a stylus as disclosed and claimed in my said co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 44,138, and is formed with a plane forward face32, and with converging lateral faces 33 extending downwardly to the tipand joined by a short rounded surface at the very end. The rear of thestylus is cut away at a suitable'angle-33 in the present instance-toform an upwardly inclined rear face 34 which provides a clearance angle.At its lowermost forward point the stylus is cut away to provide aninclinedsurface 35. The angleline 36 at the upper edge of the inclinedface l35 serves to cut into the body of the record so' that the styluswill-strip a thread therefrom. 'Ihe inclined face 35 preferably forms anangle with the horizontal (when the stylus is vertical) which is in theneighborhood of 10 to 20, and as exemplified, is near to the lattergure. The face 35 is ordinarily of very slight extent, but is sufficientto causev considerable variation in the amount in which the stylus digsinto the record at different speeds. In the present instance the edge S6may be about .0003 of an inch above the lowermost Y point on the styluswhen the stylus isvertical.

depth of the grooves which it is desired to but,

and other considerations. Grooves about .002 of an inch in depth areoften desirable in flexible records which are about..01 of an inch inthickness. When'a record is too hard or brittle, as is the casein manycellulose-ester records, the records may be softened by a suitablesolution before cutting. f

As the portion of the stylus above the edge 36 cuts `a thread from therecord, the inclined portion 35 below the edge 38 serves to press down-lward upon the body of the record underneath the stylus. It willaccordingly be apparent that the surface 35 meeting the body of therecord at an angle serves to exert a lifting action on the stylus, whichlifting action varies' principallyv with the speed and with theangularity oi' the stylus, and accordingly of the face 35, with respectto the record. According1y, by bringing the pivot point of the stylusand the record support nearer to each other as the stylus movesoutwardly, or further may be,-e. g., by inclining the supporting surfacefor the record upwardly, as in Figs. 1 to 3,-the

angularity of the inclined surface 35 will be varied -in which thestylus is cut, and various other factors. One of such factors is thespeed of rotation of the record, which ordinarily will be varied for thecutting of records of different diameters. In the cutting of largerrecords, it is common practice to rotate the record at a lower speed,since under many conditions high speeds would be too,

great for effective action near the outside of the record. Since therotative speed is less, the difference between the linear speed ofmovementv at an inner point and the linear speed of movement at a pointa given distance outwardly thereof is likewise less, and, accordingly,when a`record is being rotated at a lowerspeed, as for instance when alarger record is being cut under ordinary conditions, the inclination ofthe upper surface of the supportingV pad will be less than theinclination of a pad adapted for use in the cutting of smaller recordsata higher speed. Since it is often desirable that a single machine beadapted for use in cutting of both large and small records, thesupporting means 3| is-of a reversible i nature having one surface 38which has a relatively large degree of inclination to adapt it forsupporting records-such as small records-which are to be rotated at ahigh speed, as by the motor i6, and a surface 38a which has a relativelysmall degree of inclination' to adapt it to be utilized to supportrecords lsuch as-large records which are adapted to be rotated moreslowly, as by the motor il. These surfaces are provided in the presentinstance by layers 39 and 39a of felt-like material whichin the presentinstance are mounted on layers 40 and 40a of soft rubber which areunited, A

by means of layers 4i and 4| a of hard rubber, to a disk 42 of metal,such, for instance, as (aluminum. Such a construction may be readilyformed by vulcanizing the hard rubber layers on lthe metal disk,vulcanizing the soft rubber layers thereon, cutting the soft rubberlayers away so as to give their surface the desired inclination for thesurfaces 33 and 38a and securing layers of felt thereon, and provides aresilient support or a particularly satisfactory nature. If desired, a

single removable, felt-like layer may be disposed upon whichever of thelayers 40 and 40a is uppermost, or, if a reversible unitis not desired,soft rubber or other disks having the proper inclination may be utilizedinterchangeably, with, prefer- 1ipresent time, it is -to beunderstood-that the invention is adapted for use with exible records ofa variety of types, including gelatine records and others.

that a gelatin recordreqwresless inclination It is to be noted in thisconnection u in the supporting surface, other conditions being equal,than does a cellulose acetate record.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the surface 38 is uppermost and a record 31, which maybe a 12" drum-formed cellulose acetate record, is disposed thereon, andthe motor I5, which may be adapted to drive the record at 78 R. P. M.isengaged. In Fig. 3 the surface 38a is uppermost and a record 31a,which may be a 16" drum-formed cellulose acetate record is disposedthereon, and the motor I1, which may be adapted to drive the record at331/3 R.. P. M. is engaged.

-As exemplified, the height of the supporting surfaces for the recordincreases substantially uniformly from a point where the first groove isto be cut, to a point where the last groove is to bel cut, but othermodifications may be made to take care of the various factors which mayenter into the cutting effect. Also there are instances wherein it isnot of major importance that the height of the support alter at pointsnear -the center of the record, and, in such instances the upwardinclination of the support may begin at a point suitably spaced from theline where the innermost groove is cut.

It will be appreciated that while greatly superior results can beobtained by the use of a stationary support in accordance with saidco-pending application, Serial No. 654,782, the invention is not limitedto the use of such a support. There is exemplified in Fig. 4 aconstruction wherein there is provided a rotatable shaft 45 carrying 'aj turn-table 46, the upper portion of which is provided by a pad 41which is preferably composed of resilient material-for instance, feltmaterial-' and the upper surface of which is inclined somewhat upwardlytoward its periphery to support a record 31 under a stylus which may becarried by suitable mechanism, such for instance as that exemplified inFig. 1, or disclosed in various of my co-pending applications hereinreferred to. The degree of inclination of the surface oi the pad 41 isexemplified as similar to the degree of inclina- -tion of the surface38, although, as above indicated, the degree of inclination will varyconsiderably under various conditions and with the use `of styli andother elements of varying character.

The relative position of the record and the point at which the stylus ispivoted may be altered in various ways other than by the provision of asupport having an inclined surface. In Figs. 8 and 9 there isexemplified onetype of construction to this end, wherein a portion of asupporting table is cut out under the radial path of movement of thestylus, so that a flexible record will be pressed into the slot soformed bythe weight of the stylus carrier. In accordance with theinvention the slot is made wider at its inner portion than at its outerportion. As shown inA Figs. 8 and 9 there is provided a pad 49,whichness. This pad 49 has a fiat upper surface, and has formed therein aradial slot 50 the edgesof which are outwardly converging lines. Thedimensions and increment in width toward the interior'of the slot willvary considerably depending on the type of record to be employed, butthe increment oi' spread will be slight. The exemplified pad may beembodied in a machine such as shown in Fig. 1. In operation the recordv5I will be pressed down between the edges of the slot by the stylus I8to a considerable extent near the interior of the record, where vtheslot is relatively wide, and to a lesser extent near the outside ot therecord, where the slot is relatively support.

annees narrow, so that the point of actual support under the stylus willbe nearer to the pivot point of the stylus carrier at an inner point onthe record than at an outer point.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown a device combining the features ofFig. 1 and of Figs. 8 and 9. In this exempliiication, a pad 49o isprovided with a slot 50c, the sides of which converge somewhat in anoutward direction, and the surface of which increases somewhat in heightin an outward direction, as will be seen from Fig. 11. decrease in widthof the slot outwardly is not as great as was the case in Figs. 8 and 9,and the increase in height outwardly is not as great as was the case ifno slot were provided. The two inwardly from the vertical, as it movesinwardly,

as the case may be).

In Figs. 12-14, there is shown an arrangement wherein a single point ofsupport of the record is maintained under the stylus without variationduring the movement of the stylus across the record. By such means, thedepth of the groove is unaffected by irregular variations in the recordExcept as indicated, the machine exemplified in Figs. 12-14 is similarto the machine shown in Fig. 1, and the parts thereof which areunmodified are designated by similar reference numerals.

In the present exemplilcation, the supporting table 1d carries a layer60 of soft rubber and a layer 6I of felt, each of said layers beingremovably mounted. The layer 6I provides a supporting surface 62 which,in the present instance, increases in height toward its periphery and'has generally the same conformation as the surface 32. Each of themember 1d, 60 and 6I are cut away radially of the record to provide arecess 63 in which there may move a supporting element 64 adopted tosupport the portion of the record beneath the stylus I8.- The supportingelement 64 comprises, in the present instance, a rigid member 65carrying a layer 66 of soft rubber and a layer 61 of felt. In order tomove the element 64 at the same speed as the stylus, there is provideda. forked member 68 fitting over a flange 69 on an arm 10 extending fromthe bracket 22; and the forked member is connected with the element 64by means of an arm 1I slidably mounted in a frame member 12, andcarrying arm 13 to which there is pivotally connected at 14 a link 15which is pivotally connected at 16 to a pair of prongs 11 depending from'the member 65.y The ,member 65 is formed'with a squared opening fittingover an inclined square rod 19 which is pivotally secured to the table1d by a screw 80, and is adjustably secured in a vertical slot BI in theframe member 12 by means of a set screw 82. By loosening the screw 82,the rod 19 may be adjusted for whatever inclination is desired to give auniform cut in the particular type of record on which the recordingoperation is being carried out, and the screw tightened to hold the rodThe rmly in its adjusted position. Notches or other means may beprovided to assist in the firm holding action if desired. As-"wiil beapparent the removable pads 60 and 6I may be replaced, when A desired,so as to provide a surface 62 the depth of i erably made to correspond,so that the element 64 will not be out of line with the edges of thesurface 62. As will be apparent the element 64 will receive the pressureof the stylus at a single point 83 thereon at all times, since themember from which the stylus is hung and the element 64 moves insynchronism.

As above indicated, it is not essential in order to vary the relativesupport of the stylus and of the record, that the record-support be soformed that its distance from the stylus--support will vary at differentradial points on the record, it being possible to form thestylus-support in such manner that this distance will be varied.

In Fig. 15 there is shown an arrangement similar to that of Figs. 12-14wherein the members 60 and 6| are replaced by members 60e and 6Ie whichpresent a fiat surface 62e to the record and wherein the rod 19 extendshorizontally. In

this instance the stylus supporting means includes 22e,simi1ar to thebracket 22, will be lowered as it is moved toward the periphery of therecord.

.It will be appreciated that similar results may be obtained by theprovision of means for .continuously turning the adjusting screw 22a,but

the means exemplied in Fig. '15 is of greater simplicity. It will alsobe understood that means for varying 4the height of the pivot point maybe utilized with constructions such as shown in Figs.

1-3, 4, 8 9, audio-11, as well as in the construcf tion shown in Fig.14.

While, in those embodiments of the invention particularly exemplified,the distance between the pivot point of the stylus carrier and the pointat which the tip of the stylus is supported by the record decreasesoutwardly from an inner point on the record to an outer point, dueto thefact that the pivot point of the stylus carrier is over the part of therecord which has just beencut, in accordance with ordinary practice, togive a smooth cutting action; it is to be understood that the principlesof the invention are applicable to `constructions wherein'the desiredchange in angularity may be obtained by' increasing such distanceoutwardly from an inner point on the record, as by providing adownwardly inclined support, a radial slot which increases outwardly,orl

supporting means lwhich tends to raise a stylus carrier in an outwarddirection. It is also 'to be understood that, as .above indicated, thestylus a may be moved either. outwardly or inwardly across the record,and such expressions as increasing in height outwardly, decreasing inwidth outwardly, etc., are to be understood as the equivalent of"decreasing in height inwardly*"increasing in width inwardly, etc.

Moreover, while the axis of rotative movement will commonly be vertical,it will be appreciated that the invention is adapted to be embodied inapparatus wherein such axis is otherwise disabove construction anddifferent embodiments oi!` the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingl sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover vall of the lgeneric,

the record, means to move said stylus across the lrecord, and means toalter the angularity of the stylus with respect to the vertical duringits movement radial of the record so as to compensate for thetendency'of the stylus to cut a lighter' groove at an outer point on therecord than at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement atsaid outer point.

2. In a recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, means tosupport said stylus, said stylus presenting an inclined portion at itstip tothe body of the record, means to cause-said stylus to move acrossa record, and means to support a record, at least one, of saidsupporting means being arranged to cause the stylus to assume differentangular positions with'respect to the'vertical at diierent radial pointson the record. l y

3. In Aa recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, means tosupport said stylus, said stylus presenting -an inclined portion at itstipv -to the body of the record, means to cause said stylus to moveacross a record, and means `to resilientlysupport a record, at least oneof said supporting means beingarranged to cause the stylus to assumedifferent angular positions with respect to thevertical atdifrerentradial points on the record.

4. In a recording device, record-rotating means, `record-supportingmeans,`a stylus car- Y rier -mounted on a substantially horizontal pivotdisposed above the record, and means tosupport said pivot, at least onesaid supporting means being arranged to cause the stylus to assumedifferent angular positions with respect to the verf tical at differentradial positions on the record.

`5. In a recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, a styluscarrier, means to pivotally support said stylus carrier, said stylusbeing adapted to cut into the recordv to a greater extent when thestylus carrier has been swung upwardly on its pivot than when it hasbeen swung downwardly on its pivot, and record-supporting means,saidsuppor'tingmeans being arranged to be increasingly nearereach-'other from an inner position to an outer position` with respect tothe record.

6. In a recording device, record-erotating,

means, a stylus, a pivotally mounted styluscar-l rier, said stylus beingadapted to cut into the record to a greater extent when the styluscarrier has been swung upwardly on its pivot than whenI it has beenswung downwardly on its pivot, and record-'supporting means adapted tosupport a flexible record under said/stylus at increasingly higherpoints from an inner portion of the record to an outer -portion of the`record.

7. In a device fo'r recording sound on iiexible records,record-supporting means comprising a reversible member having on oneside a supporting surface of one conformation and on the other 9. In arecording device, means to rotate a flexible record, means to drive saidrecord-rotating means at two different speeds, and recordsupportingmeans comprising a reversible member, one side of the reversible memberhaving a resilient supporting surface which is inclined slightlyupwardly from an inner point to an outer point to one extent, and theother side of the reversible member having a resilient supportingsurface which is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to anouter point to another extent.

10. In a recording device, means to rotate a flexible record, means todrive .the record-rotating means attwo different speeds, a stylus havinga degree of ilatness at its point and having a tendency to ride up onthe record, a stylus carrierl mounted on a substantially horizontalpivot,-

means to move the stylus carrier across a record, and record-supportingmeans comprising a reversible member, one side of the reversible Amemberhaving a resilient supporting surface which is inclined slightlyupwardly from an inner point to an outer point to one extent, and theother side of the reversible member having a resilient supportingsurface whichy is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to anouter point to another extent.

l1. A stationary support for a flexible record formed with a generallyradial cut-away portion into which a flexible record can yield under thepressure of a stylus moving therealcross.

12. In a recording device, recordrotating means, a stylus, a pivotedstylus carrier, means to move the stylus carrier across a record, and astationary record support having a portion cut away to permit the recordto yield under the pressure of a stylus moving thereacross, said cutawayportion expanding in width from one radial portion thereon to anotherradial portion thereon.

13; In' a recording device', record-rotating means, a stylus, apivotally mounted stylus vcarrier, said stylus being adapted to cut intothe record to a greater extent when the stylusv carrier has been swungIupwardly on its pivot than when it has been swung downwardly on itspivot, and record-supporting means adapted to support a flexible recordundersaid stylus at increasingly higher points from an inner portion ofthe record to an outer portion of the record, said supporting meanshaving a cut away portion adapted to permit a record to yield under thepressure of a stylus moving thereacross and decreasing in width fromaninner portion to an outer portion.

14. In a recording device, means to support a flexible record, a styluspresenting an inclined portion at its tip to the body .of the record, a

- able supporting element in unison in said generally radial directionduring the rotation of the record, and means to vary the angularity ofthe stylus with respect to the vertical during such radial movement.

15. In a recording device, means to support a flexible circular record,a stylus, a stylus Vcarrier mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot,said supporting means comprisinga stationary supporting member and asupporting element movable in a direction generally radial of therecord, means to rotate the record, and means to move said styluscarrier and said movable supporting element in unison in said generallyradial direction and to alter thekrelative distance between .said pivotand said movable supporting element during the rotation of the record tocause the stylus to cut a uniform groove in the record.

16. In a device for recording sound on flexible records, record-rotatingmeans, a stylus presenting an inclined portion at its tip to the body ofthe record, means tor move said stylus across the record, and means toalter the angularity of the stylus with respect to the vertical duringits movement radial of the record so as to compensate for the tendencyof the stylus to` cut a lighter groove at an outer point on the recordthan at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement at'saidouter point, said altering means comprising a resilient record supportproviding a supporting surface which is higher at an outer point than atan inner point. i

17. A device for recording sound on flexible records comprising astationary support formedl with a generallyradially cut-away portiondecreasing in width from an inner point to an outer point and into whicha flexible record can yield under the pressure of a stylus movingtherevacross above said cut-away portion.

for the tendency of the stylus to cut a lighter. groove at an outerpoint on the record than at an inner point due to the greater speed ofmovement at said outer point.

19. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means,- pivotallymounted means, a stylus `carried by. said pivotally mounted means andpreas to-compensate for the tendency of the stylus to cut a` lightergroove at an outer point on the record than at an inner point due to thegreater speed of movement at said outer point.

20. Inra sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus adaptedto present a forward face to a record-rotated by said record-rotatingmeans, said face terminating in a cutting edge from which there extendsa downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower surface, means to cause saidstylus to move across said record, and means to alterthe amount ofinclination of said lower'- surface during the movement of the stylusacross the record.

21. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus adaptedto present a forward face to a record rotated by said record-rotating 15said stylus to move across said record,'and means to alter the amount ofinclination of said lower means, seid 'fece terminating in ja uitingedge fromwhich there extends a downwardly and rearwardlyinclinefd lowersurface, means to cause said stylus to move. across said record, andmeansfrom whichv there extends a downwardly and therecord, said alteringmeans comprising sup' rearwardly inclined lower surface, means' to causesurface during the movement of the stylus across porting means formedwith a radial recess'expanding in Width' from one radial portion thereofpivotally carry said stylus.

.to another'radial portion thereof, and means to 23. In asound-recording device, record-rotate ing means, a stylus adapted topresent a forward face to a, record rotated by said record-rotatingmeans, said face terminating in ya' cutting edge from which thereextends a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower` surface, means toycause said stylus to move across said record, and means to 'alter theamount of inclination of said lower surface during` the movement of thestylus across the record, said altering means comprising an element fromwhich said stylus is pivotally supported and a record-supporting"element, and means t0 A -cause said elements to approach each other orto diverge from each other during the movement of the stylus across arecord on said support.

24. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, meansto move said stylus 1 acrossthe record, and meansto vary the effectiveweight on the stylus in a regular manner during its movement acrossthe'record. 25. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, astylus presenting an inclined portion at its tipto bodyolwthe record,means-to resilientlysupport said stylus, means to mover said lstylusacross the record, and record-supporting means `for varying the tensionof said resilient' means. during the movement of the stylus 25 acrossthe record.

MAURICE A.-LICHTEN.

